A ceasefire is scheduled to be begin across Syria today under a US-Russian plan, but there are widespread doubts that it will be observed.

US Secretary of State John Kerry and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov announced the agreement early Saturday for a “genuine reduction of violence”, beginning at sundown and the start of the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha. The ceasefire is supposed to allow aid to parts of Syria’s largest city Aleppo and besieged towns.

Both pro-Assad forces and rebels have tried to make gains on the ground. On Sunday, rebels took the village of Kawkab in their offensive in northern Hama Province, and they announced another offensive in Quneitra Province in southwestern Syria over the weekend. The Syrian military and allies tried to take territory in northern Latakia Province in western Syria, putting more pressure on neighboring opposition-held Idlib Province.

Rebels in the “Qadissiya of the South” offensive in Quneitra Province:

Interview with rebel in Kawkab in northern Hama — pro-regime accounts claim this morning that the Syrian Army has regained the village:

On Sunday, Iran — the Assad regime’s main ally alongside Russia — announced its support of the US-Russian deal.

However, the Syrian opposition is sceptical, believing that Russia and Damascus would control aid routes to allow assistance into regime-held districts and keep opposition-held areas hostage. They also question if Russia will ensure a halt to regime airstrikes on designated areas.

No rebel group has accepted the ceasefire. Reports circulated on Sunday that the leading rebel faction Ahrar al-Sham had rejected the arrangement.

One of the pro-Assad airstrikes on a cemetery in Rastan in Homs Province on Monday morning:

Another Iranian-Linked Commander Killed

Mortada Ataiye, a commander of the Iranian-led Afghan Fatemiyoun Brigade died in fighting in northern Latakia Province.

Iranian units, Hezbollah, and Iranian-led foreign militia have increasingly taken over front lines from an overstretched Syrian Army. Hundreds of commanders and troops have been killed since Tehran escalated its involvement last autumn, accompanying Russian aerial intervention.

Ataiye (right) with Qassem Soleimani, the head of the elite Qods Forces of the Revolutionary Guards:

Darayya finally capitulated in late August after the siege and thousands of bombs and missiles in the previous months. Thousands of civilians were removed to nearby regime-held areas, while hundreds of rebels and their families were transferred to opposition-held Idlib Province.

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About The Author

Scott Lucas is Professor of International Politics at the University of Birmingham and editor-in-chief of EA WorldView. He is a specialist in US and British foreign policy and international relations, especially the Middle East and Iran. Formerly he worked as a journalist in the US, writing for newspapers including the Guardian and The Independent and was an essayist for The New Statesman before he founded EA WorldView in November 2008.